Tamaqua To Sell Land, Rail Station

Tamaqua Borough Council voted last night to have its solicitor prepare a proposal for bids on a lot owned by the borough at Broad and Berwick streets.

The lot is in a business area and contains the Tamaqua railroad station.

The solicitor, attorney Jeffrey P. Bowe, was told to put in the proposal that council has the right to refuse all bids. The bidder must state how the property is going to be used and how many people would be employed.

Council said whoever bids on the property will be given two options: They may bid on the property with or without the railroad station, which is located between Berwick and Railroad streets.

In April, May and June of 1984 council received bids from potential buyers of the vacant lot.

Council received an offer of $30,000 at its April meeting from a group of developers represented by a Pottsville law firm. In May they received a $20,000-offer from three Tamaqua area doctors interested in building a medical center. The third bid came from the development firm of Seitzinger Bros. of Pottsville for $40,000. The group said it planned to sell the property to a fast food company.

All three offers were withdrawn.

The obstacle council has had trying to sell the land is the 110-year-old railroad station which was used by the former Reading Railroad. It is considered a historical landmark.

Each potential buyer wanted to take down the station, but the Tamaqua Historical Society feels it should remain.

The society took over the management of the property about four years ago when the building and grounds had become a "hang out."

In other business:

- Council said they received approval from the Delaware River Basin Commission for residents along Pine, Railroad and Spruce Streets to use water hoses to clean their homes and sidewalks.

Those streets recently underwent reconstruction.

Council said no other residents in the borough are allowed to use their water hoses to clean their homes or sidewalks.